at this point the article 5 could be in circulation even without Ukraine being mentioned..
Irenology is the real cure for all of this though. political action or inaction will never bring, build, foster or protect peace because it is all rooted in polemology.
Otherwise it’s just going to war.
So they can deny everything and play the victim.
They know the NATO countries won’t call article 5 for that.
And that benefits Russia